Emporia State’s Talent Search awarded $1.15 million

A five-year, $1.15 million grant will help Emporia State University reach out to middle- and high-school students who may face hurdles to pursuing a college education.

The grant is given to ESU’s TRIO office for its Talent Search program. TRIO is a term coined to describe three separate federal programs, according to the U.S. Department of Education:

Upward Bound was born in the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964 in response to the administrations War on Poverty;

Talent Search was created in 1965 as part of the Higher Education Act; and

Student Support Services was authorized in 1968 by amendments to the Higher Education Act.

Since then, the program has expanded to encompass a total of seven programs that include Educational Opportunity Center, Training Program for Federal TRIO Programs, a post-baccalaureate achievement program and Upward Bound Math/Science program.

Project Challenge is a Student Support Services program at the Emporia campus that assists qualified students enrolled full-time at ESU with academic, career, financial and personal matters. It includes free tutorial help in most subjects.

Emporia State also operates two Upward Bound programs. That work with middle- and high-school students.

The grant from the U.S. Department of Education provides at least $230,000 each year for ESU’s Talent Search program in which students participate in monthly workshops at their grade levels that include self-discovery, goal-setting, study skills instruction and college and career awareness.

The Talent Search program operates at two sites under the direction of Trudi Benjamin, TRIO coordinator. The main site at Emporia State University works with eligible students in Emporia with Julie Cayton as the director and Jennifer Benjamin as educational specialist. A second site in Leavenworth is staffed by Caleb Tegtmeier, assistant director, and Angela Hendren, educational specialist. The Leavenworth office focuses on schools in Leavenworth and Atchison.

“The offices work with a total of 520 eligible students,” said Trudi Benjamin. “Services and activities are offered that stimulate learning and motivation so that students successfully matriculate through middle school into high school then graduate from high school and seek admission to a postsecondary institution.

“Student also receive advice in secondary school course selection, preparation for college entrance exams, assistance in completing college admission and financial aid applications, resources for locating and completing scholarship applications, opportunities for campus visits and to experience cultural events, connection to high-quality academic tutoring, financial literacy instruction, a summer enrichment program and family workshops,” Benjamin said.

Emporia State University is a dynamic and progressive student-centered learning community that fosters student success through engagement in academic excellence, community and global involvement, and the pursuit of personal and professional fulfillment.